Indonesian and Australian business leaders can improve countries' two-way trade

Updated
June 05, 2014 09:01:00

Suryo Sulisto is the head of Indonesia's peak business lobby Kadin and he's in Australia this week on a tour of capital cities. Mr Sulisto says there are issues that stand in the way of increased two-way trade between Australia and its large and populous neighbour, Indonesia, but that these can be worked out by business leaders from both countries.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Well, the Australian Government just doesn't want to improve government relations with Indonesia; it wants to improve business relations.

Suryo Sulisto is the head of Indonesia's peak business lobby Kadin and he's in Australia this week for a tour of capital cities.

Suryo Sulisto, when our Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Australia is open for business, do Indonesians see a welcome mat?

SURYO SULISTO: Yes, I think so. And we also like to welcome Australian business to Indonesia.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Where are we missing opportunities?

SURYO SULISTO: Well, take the fact Indonesia is not even one of the 10 partners of Australia. You're doing bigger business with Malaysia, with Thailand. Here we are a country that's, putting together Malaysia and Thailand, they're not even half our size.

CHRIS UHLMANN: It's extraordinary in fact. Two way trade between Indonesia and Australia stands at about $11 billion. You've got a population of 244 million people. Two way trade between Australia and Malaysia is $14 billion. It's further away and has a population of 30 million.

SURYO SULISTO: Yes, that's what I think is wrong and we need to do something about it. And I think if we really work together I'm sure that we can do a lot and prosper together.

CHRIS UHLMANN: What are the barriers for Indonesian companies wanting to do business in Australia? I hear a lot of complaints about visa restrictions.

SURYO SULISTO: Well, you know there are so many other restrictions than just visa. But again, you know, if we work together and we try to get rid of all these impediments to business, I'm quite sure that we can boost our trade easily because our economies are complimentary. You know, we are not really competitors, you know. We have a huge market that I think Australia can enjoy and you have the technology, the expertise that we need.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Are we making matters worse when you see in Indonesia reports that the Australian Government spied on the president and then there are, of course, the reports of boats being turned back to Indonesia?

SURYO SULISTO: Yes, again these are some of the issues that I think, you know, if really good friends then we could sit down and work out some of these issues. We should understand better. We are all encouraged that our leaders are meeting again, talking again, but it's the business people that make things happen. Our leaders had good meetings before but as you know, nothing really has happened. So I'm here as leader of the business community in Indonesia and I want to do something about it.

CHRIS UHLMANN: President Yudhoyono has been a good friend to Australia over a long period of time. You've got presidential elections this year. What do you think will happen after that? What's the future for Australia/Indonesia relations?

SURYO SULISTO: Well, looking at it from our side, the business community, I think we have nothing to fear with whoever will become our next leaders simply because both the candidates, the presidential candidates, have business backgrounds so they understand business. And the vice-presidential candidates are the same. They're both business people so I'm sure that they all realise the importance of making sure that the business climate ought to be preserved, that they ought to maintain the friendly business environment.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Suryo Sulisto, the head of Indonesia's peak business lobby, Kadin.